Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether any IT system or other technology being installed in the new Holyrood building is wireless and, if so, to what extent.

John Scott MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): The Holyrood building is custom built with an IT infrastructure that has been designed to meet the needs of the Parliament for the foreseeable future. The core IT infrastructure for the new building will be largely enabled by high specification network cabling throughout the building, offering benefits in terms of performance and security over wireless solutions. Wireless technologies are not being employed at present, but can be adopted where appropriate without the need to re-cable.

  The Holyrood building will support radio communications which will primarily be used by the Security and FM Offices. There will also be provision for adequate mobile phone coverage.